• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2019

Rapid variations in the geometry (i.e., thickness) of the refractor and low velocities affect greatly the imaging of the reflectors of land seismic data. Conventional solutions to obtain the weathering models utilizes first break picking method, which requires time consuming steps and causes the human error in picking the first arrivals. A new interferometric approach (interferometric refraction statics, IRS) which utilizes the first arrival signal (S/N enhanced by refraction convolution stack) instead of first break picking, is tested in this study to the synthetic data from the velocity structure provided by surface geophysics (refraction, MASW) and borehole geophysics (tomography, SPS logging) for the Cheongju granitic bodies. The results of IRS approach are found to be better than the ones from conventional first break picking in terms of continuities and horizontal resolution of the reflectors. The unresolved long-wavelength statics in brute stack are much removed by IRS weathering correction and the overlying refractors (the base of shallow weathering zone) are incidentally delineated in the refraction convolution stack.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2001

The discrete wavelet transform(DWT) has potential as a tool for supplying discriminatory attributes with which to distinguish seismic events. The wavelet transform has the great advantage over the Fourier transform in being able to localize changes. In this study, a discrete wavelet transform is applied to seismic traces for identifying seismic events and picking of arrival times for first breaks and S-wave arrivals. The precise determination of arrival times can greatly improve the quality of a number of geophysical studies, such as velocity analysis, refraction seismic survey, seismic tomography, down-hole and cross-hole survey, and sonic logging, etc. provide precise determination of seismic velocities. Tests for picking of P- and S- wave arrival times with the wavelet transform method is conducted with synthetic seismic traces which have or do not have noises. The results show that this picking algorithm can be successfully applied to noisy traces. The first arrival can be precisely determined with the field data, too.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.95-100
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• 2006

To reveal subsurface structures of the Ulsan fault, seismic data were recorded along a 750-m long line near Nongso-Eup in Ulsan. P and S waves were generated simultaneously by impacting a 5 kg sledgehammer on a tilted plate. The data were received by 16 10-Hz 3-component geophones at 3 m intervals. Refracted P waves were inverted using the tomography method. Dip moveout and migration were applied to reflection data processed following a general sequence. Four layers were identified based on P-wave velocities and P- and S-wave stacked image. From top to bottom, the P-wave velocity of each layer ranges in $300{\sim}1100\;m/s$, $1100{\sim}1700\;m/s$, $1700{\sim}2700\;m/s$, and greater than 2700 m/s. The corresponding thickness of the top three layers averages 3.9 m, 5.9 m, 4.4 m, respectively. The S-wave stack section is effective to define subsurface structures shallower than 10 m.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 2005

The determination of seismic velocities in refractors for near-surface seismic refraction investigations is an ill-posed problem. Small variations in the computed time parameters can result in quite large lateral variations in the derived velocities, which are often artefacts of the inversion algorithms. Such artefacts are usually not recognized or corrected with forward modelling. Therefore, if detailed refractor models are sought with model based inversion, then detailed starting models are required. The usual source of artefacts in seismic velocities is irregular refractors. Under most circumstances, the variable migration of the generalized reciprocal method (GRM) is able to accommodate irregular interfaces and generate detailed starting models of the refractor. However, where the very-near-surface environment of the Earth is also irregular, the efficacy of the GRM is reduced, and weathering corrections can be necessary. Standard methods for correcting for surface irregularities are usually not practical where the very-near-surface irregularities are of limited lateral extent. In such circumstances, the GRM smoothing statics method (SSM) is a simple and robust approach, which can facilitate more-accurate estimates of refractor velocities. The GRM SSM generates a smoothing 'statics' correction by subtracting an average of the time-depths computed with a range of XY values from the time-depths computed with a zero XY value (where the XY value is the separation between the receivers used to compute the time-depth). The time-depths to the deeper target refractors do not vary greatly with varying XY values, and therefore an average is much the same as the optimum value. However, the time-depths for the very-near-surface irregularities migrate laterally with increasing XY values and they are substantially reduced with the averaging process. As a result, the time-depth profile averaged over a range of XY values is effectively corrected for the near-surface irregularities. In addition, the time-depths computed with a Bero XY value are the sum of both the near-surface effects and the time-depths to the target refractor. Therefore, their subtraction generates an approximate 'statics' correction, which in turn, is subtracted from the traveltimes The GRM SSM is essentially a smoothing procedure, rather than a deterministic weathering correction approach, and it is most effective with near-surface irregularities of quite limited lateral extent. Model and case studies demonstrate that the GRM SSM substantially improves the reliability in determining detailed seismic velocities in irregular refractors.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

A number of tangible cultural properties have been left to suffering damage without any scientific conservation or maintenance. We conducted nondestructive geophysical explorations around the Western pagoda of the Iksan Mireuksa Temple for the purpose of preparing the counterplan of its conservation and maintenance and of utilizing the geophysical information for the design of repair. Geophysical image of the shallow subsurface around the construct resulting from electric resistivity, seismic refraction, and GPR methods carried out along 6 lines in the site was used to investigate the relationship between the foundation characteristics and the structural safety. Tilting of the pagoda southwest towards seems to result from the low resistivity zones found in the southwestern part. The GPR and seismic surveys revealed a boundary at depth of 3.3～3.5m dividing into two layers, compacted overlaid soil and the original ground. The boundary appears to dip southwest. The artificial layer as a foundation does not covers as much as the bottom area of the pagoda. This top soil dipping southwest seems to result in tilting of foundation southwestward towards. Our geophysical result suggests ground reinforcement in the western part of the survey area for the conservation of the construct.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2001

A geophysical survey was undertaken at Wiri area, Andong, to delineate subsurface structure and reveal the fault zone nearby which heaving of road and subsidence of slope occurred in 1997, especially in the heavy rainy season. Electrical resistivity methods of dipole-dipole array profiling and Schlumberger array sounding and seismic methods of refraction and reflection were performed for the mapping of clay layer, which was interpreted to be the major factor among the reasons of slope deformation. The clay layer was characterized by lower electrical resistivities (< $100{\Omega}{\cdot}m$) and lower seismic velocities (<400 m/s), respectively. The results of electrical and seismic surveys showed that subsidence of slope was probably associated with sliding of wet clay on 18SW/NNW trending fault plane, while heaving of road was probably caused by upward movement of the wet clay through subvertical NNE trending fault.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2010

This study utilises repeated numerical tests to understand the effects of variable near-surface conditions on time-lapse seismic surveys. The numerical tests were aimed at reproducing the significant scattering observed in field experiments conducted at the Naylor site in the Otway Basin for the purpose of $CO_2$ sequestration. In particular, the variation of elastic properties of both the top soil and the deeper rugose clay/limestone interface as a function of varying water saturation were investigated. Such tests simulate the measurements conducted in dry and wet seasons and to evaluate the contribution of these seasonal variations to seismic measurements in terms of non-repeatability. Full elastic pre-stack modelling experiments were carried out to quantify these effects and evaluate their individual contributions. The results show that the relatively simple scattering effects of the corrugated near-surface clay/limestone interface can have a profound effect on time-lapse surveys. The experiments also show that the changes in top soil saturation could potentially affect seismic signature even more than the corrugated deeper surface. Overall agreement between numerically predicted and in situ measured normalised root-mean-square (NRMS) differences between repeated (time-lapse) 2D seismic surveys warrant further investigation. Future field studies will include in situ measurements of the elastic properties of the weathered zone through the use of 'micro Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP)' arrays and very dense refraction surveys. The results of this work may impact on other areas not associated with $CO_2$ sequestration, such as imaging oil production over areas where producing fields suffer from a karstic topography, such as in the Middle East and Australia.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the geologic structure of the basement and overlying sediments of the construction site of the dinosaur egg fossil museum in Hwasung, Gyeonggi Province through refraction seismology, drilling, and downward seismic velocity measurements in the drill holes. The construction site ($350{\times}750\;m^2$) is located in the reclaimed area south of Sihwa Lake, Gojeong-ri. About 6,950 m of seismic refraction data consisting of 11 lines were acquired using a sledge hammer source. Drilling to the basement was performed at five sites. Sediment samples from drilling were analysed for grain-size distribution and age dating. At two drill holes, seismic velocity was measured with depth using a hammer as a seismic source. The geological structure of the study area consists of, from top to bottom, a tidal flat layer (5 ~ 12 m thick), a weathered soil layer (2 ~ 8 m thick), and the basement. The basement is interpreted as Cretaceous sedimentary rocks that tend to be shallow eastward. The volume of the tidal flat sediments and weathered soil in the study area is estimated as $1.4{\times}10^6\;m^3$, weighing $3.5{\times}10^6$ tons. The rate of sea level rise since 8,000 yrs BP is estimated to be 0.1 ~ 0.15 cm/yr.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.349-352
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• 2007

Estimating the physical properties of the survey area and mapping the geotechnical basement play an important role in ocean engineering and construction field. In this study, we performed marine seismic reflection and refraction survey as an engineering application at shallow marine. We made use of the dual boomer - single channel streamer as a source-receiver in reflection seismic survey and air-gun source - the manufactured OBC(Ocean Bottom Cable)-type streamer in refraction survey. In the seismic reflection data, we could easily find the geological layers and basement. Moreover, seismic refraction data could present sediment thickness and velocity distribution.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2005

We derive refraction statics for seismic data recorded in a hard rock terrain, in which there are large and rapid variations in the depth of weathering. The statics corrections range from less than 10 ms to more than 70 ms, often over distances as short as 12 receiver intervals. This study is another demonstration of the importance in obtaining accurate initial refraction models of the weathering in hard rock terrains in which automatic residual statics may fail. We show that the statics values computed with a simple model of the weathering using the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) and the Refraction Convolution Section (RCS) are comparable in accuracy to those computed with a more complex model of the weathering, using least-mean-squares inversion with the conjugate gradient algorithm (Taner et al., 1998). The differences in statics values between the GRM model and that of Taner et al. (1998) systematically vary from an average of 2ms to 4ms over a distance of 8.8 km. The differences between these two refraction models and the final statics model, which includes the automatic residual values, are generally less than 5 ms. The residuals for the GRM model are frequently less than those for the model of Taner et al. (1998). The RCS statics are picked approximately 10 ms later, but their relative accuracy is comparable to that of the GRM statics. The residual statics values show a general correlation with the refraction statics values, and they can be reduced in magnitude by using a lower average seismic velocity in the weathering. These results suggest that inaccurate average seismic velocities in the weathered layer may often be a source of short-wavelength statics, rather than any shortcomings with the inversion algorithms in determining averaged delay times from the traveltimes.